The hot seat

This is my first issue of Motor Sport, and I feel privileged to take over the editor’s chair on such a respected title; a magazine I have read since… well, since I could read. I’m the 17th person to hold the position and I’ve joined at a great time, as the magazine moves towards its 84th year of publication with a fresh design and renewed vigour.

And what an issue to start with. My first day on the job had a real highlight – I had the opportunity to squeeze into Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari 312T3, whilst we were photographing it for this issue. It’s the car in which he won the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix, and the car that put him firmly in the league of legends. The feature (see page 65) starts our new studio-shoot series, and we’ve got some stunning cars lined up for the unique centrefold section in the months to come.

Our cover feature focuses on the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, when Ford’s MkII dominated. You know the tale of the USA 1-2-3, so we’ve delved deeper. Turn to p34 to find out more…

Elsewhere in the issue Simon Taylor shares sandwiches with Sir Stirling Moss, who is on top form (p46), and we tell the story of an equally dapper but very different racing figure, that suave Monagasque Louis Chiron.

We think it’s a great issue; let me know if you agree.

Richard Robinson, Editor